Lebanese Arabic phrasebook

The Lebanese dialect of Arabic is similar to that spoken in Syria, Jordan and Palestine, somewhat different to that spoken in Egypt, and very different to other forms of Arabic. As with all dialects of Arabic, the dialect is a spoken language only; the written language always conforms to standard Arabic. (This guide will use the word "Lebanese" to refer to "the Lebanese dialect of Arabic".)

Arabic is significantly different to English: different forms are used when addressing males, females and groups; plurals and verb conjugations are highly irregular and difficult to figure out from their roots; and the pronunciation includes some very difficult sounds. Lebanese, luckily, is a much-simplified from standard Arabic, and should not be overly difficult for the traveler.

Learning some basic Lebanese expressions could always come in handy; however, knowing either English or French should be enough for a tourist visiting Lebanon, since many Lebanese (especially in the youth, and particularly in Beirut) are trilingual.